If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You will have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

This could go under "Will we ever know:"

Who was Qarr's previous supervisor and what is this evil chalice s/he won't shut up about?

Or was that just some pop culture reference that flew over my head? (Yes, I know it might just be fluff to make the OOTS world seem more alive, just like the reptilian humanoids discussed in the previous Plot Point thread.)

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Originally Posted by Gift Jeraff

This could go under "Will we ever know:"

Who was Qarr's previous supervisor and what is this evil chalice s/he won't shut up about?

Or was that just some pop culture reference that flew over my head? (Yes, I know it might just be fluff to make the OOTS world seem more alive, just like the reptilian humanoids discussed in the previous Plot Point thread.)

And this came up in the previous thread too. It shows that Quaar had absolutely nothing to offer V and wanted something totally irrelevant to the plot. This showed that pre-IFCC he was a nobody filler villain. Now he's tactless and spilt the plan to Blackwing

We're all in the Monster Manual somewhere. My entry is between Howler and Hydra.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Originally Posted by Gift Jeraff

Who was Qarr's previous supervisor and what is this evil chalice s/he won't shut up about?

Sunken Valley addressed that quite nicely, so I won't try to state basically his exact argument in my own words, but what do you mean that Quarr "won't shut up about" the chalice? I thought it was only mentioned in the one strip?

EDIT: ....aaaaaaand I just looked up that strip, and noticed it was the supervisor what wouldn't shut up. My bad.

Redcloak's real name and other mysteries

Originally Posted by Sniffnoy

Here's a question we can add: What is Redcloak's (and Right-Eye's) real name? (This might be one of those things that is never revealed, or it might finally be revealed when he and Xykon betray each other.)

If we choose to take a joke strip as canon, it might be that they have always been RedCloak and Right-Eye. After all, there are hobgoblins named Cleric #2 and Hobgoblin Soldier Who Only Appears in a Single Panelof One Strip. (The actual name mentions a specific strip and panel. I'm just two lazy to look it up.) There is another RPG-based Webcomic strip that has Goblins named after the supposed future fates with characters like Dies Horribly and Saves a Fox. The only named goblin I can think of is Jirix, which in certain fonts looks a lot like Jinx. So far, he's showed no signs of bringing bad luck. In fact, he's been unusually lucky so far. Having Xykon order his resurrection for example. I think the Hydra-Burger stand guy had a name too, but I don't remember it.

Speaking of Jirix, a plot point we that hasn't mentioned is the army of hobgoblin shades the Dark One is gathering. One objection to Belkar dying within a few weeks of comic time is that he'd be out of the story too early if there's a war in the afterlife there could be story a plenty for Belkar. It would be good way for other characters such as Therkla and Miko to return to action.

As to other hanging plot threads, I thought at one time Julio Scoundrel was going to be revealed to be Elan's biological father. Obviously, that's not the case. But considering Star Wars motif that surrounds Elan and Tarquin, making Julio the Obi-Wan, Julio remarks about a future meeting may be ominous foreshadowing (DUN-DUN-DUH) rather than a one-off gag. In fact, based on his own chaotic inclinations, Julio may well have some connection to the mysterious Draketooth clan.

Our morst recent mystery is who killed Nale's step-mother Penelope. Based on the context, it doesn't seem either Tarquin or Nale have a good to reason to lie about killing her. My guess Sabine did it on orders from the IFCC. The IFCC seems to have a vested interest in not letting any of the parties get too far ahead of each other. So presumably, letting the Linnear Guild have too much information early would not suit their plans.

EDIT: On reviewing it seems that Penelope's death was mentioned. What was not How Xykon got his hands on Serini's diary. We know for for a fact that Serini's Gate is intact. So presumably Xykon has not confronted her directly. Based on what little we know of her, Serini might be scatterbrained enough to be so careless about vital information about the gates, but THIS IS HER DIARY we're talking about. Letting the cat out of the bag about the gates' location is one thing but letting others read her private thoughts. How her Diary got into Xykon's hand might make for mini-story in itself.

Re: Redcloak's real name and other mysteries

Originally Posted by PhantomDennis

If we choose to take a joke strip as canon, it might be that they have always been RedCloak and Right-Eye.

That wouldn't fit with Start of Darkness at all.

Spoiler

Show

"The really unforgivable acts are committed by calm men in beautiful green silk rooms, who deal death wholesale, by the shipload, without lust, or anger, or desire, or any redeeming emotion to excuse them but cold fear of some pretended future. But the crimes they hope to prevent in the future are imaginary. The ones they commit in the present--they are real." --Aral Vorkosigan

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

If her loyalty truly was towards the archfiends and not Nale, why not just flat-out tell Qarr that? Instead, she skirts around the issue and gets pissed when he calls her out.

I read it as her doing exactly that--telling Qarr that she was doing her job and he didn't know what her exact orders are.

Originally Posted by Gift Jeraff

She's either completely split, truly dedicated to Nale, or leaning towards the IFCC but feeling some regret about it. I can't really see how that strips implies her being fine with backstabbing Nale.

I'm not saying it does. Rather, I'm saying it's consistent with her still being more loyal to them than to him, and that that line isn't the conclusve proof of her loyalty to Nale that people are making it out to be.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Originally Posted by Kish

Really? I think 804 served to lampshade how very ambiguous the question is at the moment, perhaps even to Sabine.

Even the title of the page is "Where Her Loyalties Lie."

See, nothing she says to Qarr indicates that she's anything but completely loyal to the IFCC ("You don't know what my orders are, Qarr."). The only ambiguity comes in with that last line at the end (and maybe, just maybe, with what she doesn't say), but I think Sabine sees no conflict at all between serving the IFCC and serving Nale, while Qarr does because he doesn't see the whole picture.

What happens if there does become a conflict between serving the IFCC and serving Nale, that's still an open question.

Last edited by Morgan Wick; 2011-12-30 at 05:14 PM.

Avatar courtesy azuyomi244.

98% of the internet has a Myspace. If you're one of the 2% who isn't an emo whiner, show solidarity by putting this in your sig.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Originally Posted by Gift Jeraff

I'm curious as to why you've yet to add anyone else's suggestions (or so it seems), particularly this one:Or is a named character running off while swearing revenge on a main character and a semi-major villain and contemplating a team up with a recurring villain considered "resolved"?

Sorry Pory, never noticed that.

I'm not putting that chalice in though. It's not backed up by two strips.

We're all in the Monster Manual somewhere. My entry is between Howler and Hydra.

DEFINITE CHEKHOV'S GUNS
The Fate of Azure City
V's deal with the IFCC, and the IFCC's motivations
"I'm not what you call exactly-" (I could say possible, but...)
MitD's identity
Odin's Prophecy about Durkon
The Oracle's Prophecy about Durkon
Belkar's Last Breath
The Dark One, The Plan and the Plight of Monster Races (could be a pillar)
Chekhov's Anti-Spellcaster Feat (As taught by Horace Greenhilt)
Xykon's anti-Redcloak-betrayal spell on MitD (I could say possible, but...)
How Sabine is Haley's evil opposite
Daigo's last name
Xykon hunting down phylactery (and getting it back from the Resistance)
Celia's deal with Thieves' Guild/Guild's reaction to Haley breaking it (not quite the same as Lord Tyrinar/Ian Starshine)
Right-Eye's Daughter
Planet within the Planet, and the truth about the Snarl
Why Girard is really so pissed at Soon
Roy's plan for his Archon
Who killed Penelope?
The fate of Thog

POSSIBLE CHEKHOV'S GUNS
The Doubly Occupied Soul Gem (possible good-aligned soul splice in the future?)
Hilgya's return
Pompey's return (could be definite, actually)
"As for the elf-"
Miko's return (hey, Rich did say she'd have an impact on the rest of the story...)
Elan's last name
V's divorce (I don't think it'll be settled as easily as it was at the start of the book)
Kazumi's baby
Why Roy keeps mentioning Fyron's son
O-Chul's influence on MitD
Why no one remembers Blackwing (I'd prefer definite - it's continued in later strips, and even Haley forgot)
What happens when Nale and the IFCC are at odds

POSSIBLE STORY ANGLES
The Fates of Girard and Serini
Soon's Rift
Lirian's Rift
Dorukan's Rift
Eugene's promise not to visit family

ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT BEING EXPLORED
V's gender (and that of his/her family)

Avatar courtesy azuyomi244.

98% of the internet has a Myspace. If you're one of the 2% who isn't an emo whiner, show solidarity by putting this in your sig.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Originally Posted by Sunken Valley

Spoiler

Show

How will Durkon bring doom to the dwarves?

Spoiler

Show

Kraagor's Gate is in the same mountains as the dwarven stronghold where Durkon lived, and Girard's and Kraagor's gates will be destroyed in the same manner as previous three. When the hole is completely torn, the world in the world will coexist -- either side to side or on different planes.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

This one realy eats at me, as it's a complete unexplained asspull with no known rules or logic explaining it.... which would be ok if it was a minor event of no consequences, but it's direct consequences are even now continuing to play out even in the current strip.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

This one realy eats at me, as it's a complete unexplained asspull with no known rules or logic explaining it.... which would be ok if it was a minor event of no consequences, but it's direct consequences are even now continuing to play out even in the current strip.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

This one realy eats at me, as it's a complete unexplained asspull with no known rules or logic explaining it.... which would be ok if it was a minor event of no consequences, but it's direct consequences are even now continuing to play out even in the current strip.

Eugene saw Xykon getting away inside Redcloak's holy symbol. Eugene told Shojo about Xykon. Soon was either watching from beyond the grave or Shojo told Soon at some point (a bonus strip in WaXP and DStP's cast page imply that Shojo was working with Ghost Soon).

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

This one realy eats at me, as it's a complete unexplained asspull with no known rules or logic explaining it.... which would be ok if it was a minor event of no consequences, but it's direct consequences are even now continuing to play out even in the current strip.

Already been answered but I'd chalk it up to his Knowledge:religion. As an epic level Paladin with no dump stats (he was the Roy of his party) investigating something created by the gods it's probably high

We're all in the Monster Manual somewhere. My entry is between Howler and Hydra.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

And Knowledge: Religion is something none of the members of the Order has at appreciable levels--even Durkon.

Spoiler

Show

"The really unforgivable acts are committed by calm men in beautiful green silk rooms, who deal death wholesale, by the shipload, without lust, or anger, or desire, or any redeeming emotion to excuse them but cold fear of some pretended future. But the crimes they hope to prevent in the future are imaginary. The ones they commit in the present--they are real." --Aral Vorkosigan

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

One for the list of "possible Chekhov's Guns" - the army of goblin souls that the Dark One is gathering. I'm personally inclined to think this is just the normal goblin afterlife, but there's been a fair bit of speculation that there's more to it then that, and it might indeed come up again.

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Put in a new thread cause the old one died and due to the changing of the guard mysterywise.

A link to the previous thread might provide useful context....

What is Varsuuvius’ gender?

Explicitly will not be answered per Word of Giant. Probably rules out a definite gender for Inkyrius too.

When will Roy learn the Mageslayer trick?

You seem to know you're stuff so I assume I'm missing something, but I thought he learned this in the afterlife in Strip 600 or shortly there(be?)fore.

Will Belkar kill Varsuuvius?

Is there a reason to think this is an option? (I think V is more worried that Belkar doesn't plan to kill him...see "The Incident".)

What are the 9 (or more) sides to the conflict?

We've almost surely got all of them by now:
1. The OOTS
2. The Linear Guild
3. Xykon
4. Redcloak
5. The Dark One (if different from RC)
6. The IFCC
7. Tarquin
8. The Sapphire Guard (Ghost Soon?)
9. Serini? Draketooth?

A couple iffies there, but I'm fairly confident Xykon, Redcloak and TD1 encompass no fewer than two sides among them. There might be one or two sides remaining hidden but Rich has explicitly said we're past the halfway point, so it's a bit late to introduce new factors.

What is Redcloak going to do with the Phylacetery?

This seems pretty clear - "keep Xykon from knowing it's been found as long as possible".

Where does Xykon go when he comes back with new tricks?

Is there a reason to think he doesn't just go out to Random Epic-Level Morally-Ambiguous Dungeon #67X and curbstomp some potential competition until he levels up?

What was Nale's "Evil Potential"?

Again I doubt that this is anything specific.

Why did Nale kill Malacks Children?

"See also: jackass". :D

Spoiler

Show

What about that anti-betrayal spell Xykon did on the Mitd?

This is the sort of thing which absolutely must come up in the main story at some point; hopefully (and almost certainly) Rich will remember it isn't known info to non-prequel-readers and will include a synopsis in-strip as he did for the Thieves' Guild.

Why is Fyron's son not in SoD?

Huh? Why should he be?

Will Hilgya and Pompey come back?

Pompey went off with Leeky so that's almost certainly no (and if you mention one you should mention the other). I'm still holding out for Hilgya, and you might also mention the Loki cleric from the Thieves' Guild (the one who Belkar taught to "fish"); it's not for sure they'll be associated just because they share a god, but there hasn't been much in the way of coincidence in this strip.

What happened to Dorukan's and Lirian's rifts?

This can be removed; both were destroyed (Dorukan by Elan and Lirian by...well, I don't wanna bother with a spoiler box).

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

"The really unforgivable acts are committed by calm men in beautiful green silk rooms, who deal death wholesale, by the shipload, without lust, or anger, or desire, or any redeeming emotion to excuse them but cold fear of some pretended future. But the crimes they hope to prevent in the future are imaginary. The ones they commit in the present--they are real." --Aral Vorkosigan

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Re: Unresolved Plot Point Collection Thread II

Originally Posted by willpell

Huh? Why should he be?

Short version: our original version of Xykon's backstory claims he killed Fyron and his son. The son is conspicuously missing from SoD, but has continued to be referenced in the online comic on occasion, so it might not just be a retcon to simplify things.